Saint Lucia Languages

Although

there are other languages spoken in Saint Lucia, English is the official

language. It is the language used in media, business, schools, and by the

government. The use of English in Saint Lucia dates back to the 16th century

when the British formed a colony in the Caribbean and tried unsuccessfully to settle it. The British were later able to take possession of Saint

Lucia as a colony. The island gained independence in 1979 and English continued

to be the official language. Interestingly, even with English being the

official language, a great number of locals speak Saint Lucian Creole French,

commonly known Patois. It is a language founded on French and West

African languages and was developed at the beginning of the era of French

colonization. Patois is used during informal settings, at home, and in the

streets. The popularity of Patois has led to the development of radio programs

and textbooks.

Some decades ago Patois was considered low class and an obstacle to acquiring job opportunities and bad for Saint Lucia’s image as a country hence the effort to root it out. However, this view has changed over the years, and Patois is now recognized as an integral part of the island’s culture. Patois is spoken by 95% of Saint Lucians. In total, approximately over one million people can speak the language, and it is a source of national pride.

Although a majority of Saint Lucians use Patois in their everyday lives, some of the phrases in the language are borrowed from the English language. These English words are sometimes used while conversing in Patois.

istorically, there were several indigenous languages spoken in Saint Lucia although most of them are inexistent today. Some of these languages belong to the Arawakan family. The Arawak people, who mainly inhabited the Caribbean, spoke these languages. An additional minority language family that was widespread in the greater Southern American region was Cariban language. Some of the Cariban languages are Hixkaryana and Macushi. However, these were already extinct in Saint Lucia in the 1920s.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Castries
Languages	English (official), French patois
Ethnic Groups	Black/African descent 85.3%, mixed 10.9%, East Indian 2.2%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
Religion	Roman Catholic 61.5%, Protestant 25.5% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 10.4%, Pentecostal 8.9%, Baptist 2.2%, Anglican 1.6%, Church of God 1.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Evangelical 2.3% and Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), Rastafarian 1.9%, other 0.4%, none 5.9%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
Government	Parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Independance	22 February 1979 (from the UK)
Area	616.00 km²
Water Area	10.00 km²
Land Area	606.00 km²
Population	164,464.00 Most of the population is found on the periphery of the island, with a larger concentration in the north around the capital of Castries
Location	Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
GDP(PPP)	$2,083,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$12,000.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are the Dominican Republic, the United States, and Suriname.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are bananas, clothing, cocoa, avocadoes, and mangoes.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Brazil, the United States, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include food, manufactured goods, machinery and transportation equipment, and chemicals.
Climate	Temperature averages 27-29 degrees Celsius all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; hurricane season stretches from July to November
Terrain	Volcanic and mountainous with broad, fertile valleys
Learn More	Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia Languages

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